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Mint's glow-in-the-dark coin wins innovation award

The Royal Canadian Mint's 2012 25-cent glow-in-the-dark Prehistoric Animals - Pachyrhinosaurus Lakustai collector coin, has been named most innovative coin by Krause Publications' 2014 Coin of the Year Awards. It is seen here as it appears in the dark. (Royal Canadian Mint/Handout/QMI AGENCY)

QMI Agency

The Royal Canadian Mint's glow-in-the-dark quarter featuring a dinosaur has been named the most innovative coin of the year.

The coin featuring a Pachyrhinosaurus Lakustai — a new species of dinosaur discovered from a fossil found in Alberta — has become a "global phenomenon" since it was released in March 2012, the Mint said in a release Tuesday.

The coin shows an image of what the dinosaur may have looked like, but in the dark, a skeleton becomes visible.

It was the first photo-luminescent coin in the world.

The award is presented by Krause Publications, a Wisconsin-based media company dedicated to collectibles. An international panel of medallists, journalists, and central bank and museum officials judges the annual competition.

Mint president and CEO Ian Bennett said the award "elevates our reputation as a world leader in advancing the art and science of coin manufacturing."